Hearse



W. T. JACOBS Aug. 15, 1933.

HEARSE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Nov. 15, 1928 W. T. JACOBS Aug. 15, 1933.

HEAR SE Original Filed Nov 15, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet k w T O U M67227," '7 Jvafia,

Aug. 15, 1933.

w. 'r. JACOBS 1,922,094

HEARSE Original Filed Nov. 15, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Aug. 15, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HEARSE Walter T. Jacobs, Freeport, 111., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Big Rock Ranch Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a Corporation of California Application November 15, 1928, Serial No. 319,674. Renewed March 29, 1932 20 Claims. (Cl. 214-455) This invention relates to an improvement in shown, terminating pp the Openings in the a se-construction more particularly of the type sides of the hearse and hereinafter referred to. adapted to deliver the casket through openings l ff y above, 13 P e h, fi 1 at either side of the hearse body. i y r 11 is a Gas upp r i 1 a orm 5 One of my objects is to provide for the lateral upon which rests the casket 15, the platform 14 60 delivery of the casket preferably through either beiiig p liz f With rollers t 6 t t lslt d of the side openings of the hearse body, by power of he & t Tom the p ferm- The p a form operated mechanism, and other objects as will be b y lij fi g p the i lll T1001 manifest from the following description. 1 Y a Series 0 a earring pp S 1 10 Referring to the accompanying drawings: The ca e up platform 14 is adapted as Figure 1 is a horizontal plan section of a hearse to swing the Casket forwardly and laterally to embodying my invention nd ho in by lid permit delivery of the latter through either of lines, the normal osition of the casket-supportthe side Openings of th a s dy a ov reing platform, and by dotted lines, the extreme ferred to a represented a these p n s lateral position of the platform when moved into being q p With Swinging doors 70 one of the lateral openings of the hearse body. Depending from the a p t n f th p at- Figure 2 is a broken view in side elevation of form 14 is a drivemember repr generalthe casket-supporting and power actuated mechit d 1 h; l i 'iez ttfi move a g the lgngh anism. u ma gui e s o is mem er eing s own 20 Figure 3 is an enlarged t n taken at t in detail in Fig. 5 and comprising a vertical shaft 75 line 3 on Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction of the 21 Connected Sg itsglpper on? With the inner racearrow, way 22 of a all caring, he ou er raceway 23 Figure 4 is an enlar ed l n ie showing th of which is confined in a housing 2% secured to arrangement of the guide slots in the auxiliary the underside of the Platform 25 floor of t hearse, The lower 1enzd of the sihafttil extends through 0 Figure 5 is a detailed section of the driving a guide blee 5 Secure 0 e upp id O a member for the platform, this view being taken disk 26, this guide block, Which s p a y of at the line 5 on Fig. 3 and viewed in the direction g s er 1 xt l l ns i id ne y of the arrow, in o e ongiu ina so 2. e dis 26 is Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the equipped With p y p i Sockets 27 conlateral guide brackets employed for determining t il fh -g gg tp t fd t0 floontact the path through which the platform is moved. Wi e 1111 eISi e 0 he ailXi y 0 11 Figure '7 is a perspective view of the electric when the platform 14 projects w d y th ou h motor and switch control mechanism by means either of the Side Openings 13 0f the hearse o y,

' of which the latform is actuat d; d the shaft 21 being provided with a head 29 lo- Figure 8, a diagrammatic view of the electrical Gated below the underside of the block 25 to p circuits controlling the operation of the motor. Vent upward displacement of s t- Referring to the particular construction illus- The drive member also Q P a nut-formtrated, 9 represents the main floor of the hearse m member secured 9 and dependi1 1g from, the body secured by the ordinary means to the hearse d1sk 26 for coopferatlon Wlth a drlve member chassis 10. 11 is a secondary, or auxiliary, floor heremafter qescnbed' nut member Imus" parallel with the main floor of the hearse and tratd compnse? housing 30 sgcured ip unspaced a sufficient distance above the main floor d fi of the dlsk 26 Wlth opemngs 31 at Its to provide a space for the platformmpemfiw posite ends, and a removable worm block 32 con- 45 fined therein, the housing 30 having a dependmeans hereinafter F ing projection 33 at its front end, for the puris shown, the aux liary floor 11 contains a pose hereinafter described guide slot 12 extending longitudinally of the The w0rm b1ock 32 is held in the housing 30 hearse y n pr f y mldwey e the against turning but is slidable therein, coil- 50 sides of the latter, the floor 11 also containing a springs 32a being interposed between the block p ne1 01f1 fgplig h p t fi i i ncii so and the ends oithedhousing 3:111 and through which gui e s o s w 10 mee a on inner en s a e p atform 1 is riven by e b ock 32.

a common point in the longitudinal slot 12 be- Extending through the nut member, and entween the ends of the latter, and at their outer gaging the threads of the block 32, i a w ends, which are preferably slightly curved as drive shaft 34 located in the space between the floors 9 and 11 and journalled in bearings 35 and 36 on the floor, to extend directly below. and parallel with, the guide slot 12, this shaft serving as a means, when operated as hereinafter described, to bodily shift the platform 14 into the desired position.

Secured to the underside of the casket-supporting platform 14, forwardly of the drive member 20, is a depending lateral guide member 38 which extends through the slot 12 and is preferably connected with the platform 14 by a bearing connection shown at 39 and corresponding with the bearing connection between the shaft 21 and the platform 14 as described, the lower end of the member 38 terminating in a boss 40.

It may be here stated that the provision of the longitudinal slot 12 and the lateral guide slots 13, together with the drive member 20 and the guide member 30, is to permit the platform 14 to be moved into a position substantially at right angles to the length of the hearse with its forward end portion projecting laterally outwardly through either of the side openings 18, as desired.

Such selective positioning of the platform 14 is effected by means settable at will by the operator for switching the guide member 38 into either of the lateral guide slots 13 as desired, these means being restorable to a position in which they do not interfere with the continued forward movement of the drive member 20, permitting the latter to pass forwardly beyond the juncture of the slot 12 with the lateral guide slots 13 to permit of the right angled positioning of the platform 14 as above referred to.

The particular means shown for thus switching the guide member 38 into the one of the guide slots 13 in which it is to travel comprises brackets 41 and 42, of similar, but complementary, construction, these brackets being pivotally connected at 43 and 44', respectively, to the lower main floor 9 in such position that their upper forward extremities 45 and 46 may be caused to project across the slot 12 substantially at the juncture of the latter with the lateral guide slots 13, as shown of the member 41 in Fig. 2, and thereby deflect the lateral guide member 38 along either one of the lateral guide slots 13 as desired to permit delivery of the casket through one or the other of the side openings 18.

The members 41 and 42 when in normal position are out of intersecting relation with the guide slot 12, the means provided for selectively positioning these members for performing the deflecting function comprising a pair of pull rods 47 and 48 connected at their inner ends with the opposite sides of the hearse body by means of springs 49 and 50, respectively, these rods extending slidingly through downwardly-extending projections 51 and 52, respectively, swiveled on the rear end portions of the members 41 and 42, and extending through arcuate slots 9 in the floor 9. These rods are each provided with spaced apart stops 53 located at opposite sides of the swiveled projections in which these rods slide, these stops, by alternately engaging with these swiveled projections, serving to oscillate the members 41 and 42.

Cooperating with the members 41 and 42 are latch levers 54 and 55 pivoted at their rear ends to the floor 9 as represented at-56 and 57, respectively, the forward ends of these levers containing notches 58 into which the rear ends of the members 41 and 42, extend, and with which they interlock when swung into deflecting position, the levers 54 and 55 being spring pressed toward the members 41 and 42, as by the springs represented at 59.

In explanation of the operation of the mechanism just described, reference is here made to Fig. 4 which illustrates the deflecting member 41 as having been rotated to deflecting position by engagement of the outer stop 53 with the projection 51 upon drawing the rod 47 outwardly against the resistance of the spring 49, the member 41 thereby becoming interlocked with the latch lever 54, as shown. In this position of the member 41 it extends into the path of movement of the boss 40 on the guide member 38 and thereby directs the latter along the guide slot 13 at the bottom of Fig. 4. namely, that which extends toward the right hand side of the hearse. it being apparent that a reversal of this lateral guiding action of the guide member 38 may be effected by the swinging of the member 42 into guide-deflecting position by actuating the rod 48.

As the supporting platform 14 is drawn forwardly by the action of the drive shaft 34 and the drive member 20. the guide block 25 will reach a position in which it extends at the junction between the lateral and longitudinal guide slots 12 and 13, the lateral guide member 38 having been diverted along one or the other of the guide slots 13.

To prevent lateral deflection of the drive member 20, carrying the guide member 25 and permitting this guide member to continue its travel in the longitudinal guide slot 12, I provide a pair of levers 60 and 61 located at opposite sides of the slot 12 and pivoted between their ends to the floor 9 as represented at 62, these levers being normally in alinement and at right angles to the longitudinal slot 12 by means of a spring 63 housed in a depression or cavity 64 in the main floor 9 and connected at its opposite ends with depending pins 65 on the inner ends of these levers. The outer ends of the levers 60 and 61 extend closely adjacent the sides of the levers 54 and 55, respectively, and, in their normal position, adjacent the bases of cam projections 66 and 67 provided on the inner edges of the levers 54 and 55, the inner ends of the levers 60 and 61 extending into the path of movement of the projections 33 of the member 20.

The operation of the mechanism just described is as follows: As the drive member 20, in being drawn forwardly, approaches the junction between the projection 33 and guide slots 12 and 13, the projection 33 engages the inner ends of the levers 60 and 61, turning them forwardly on their pivots 62 which results in the camming of the levers 54 and 55 laterally outwardly, thereby disengaging the one of the levers 41 and 42 which had previously been operated into deflecting position thus releasing this lever for return to normal position under the action of the spring connected with the one of the pull rods cooperating therewith.

The drive member 20 is then free to be moved forwardly along the slot 12 through and beyond the juncture of the lateral guide slots therewith, it being understood that the guide member 20 at all times moves along the slot 12 whereas the lateral guide member 38 moves along one or the other of the guide slots 13.

Upon reversal of the direction of movement of the supporting platform 14 from a position in which it extends at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the hearse, to a position in which it is withdrawn into the body of the hearse, the drive member 20 is free to cross the point of juncture between the longitudinal guide slot and the lateral slots and upon contacting with the levers 60 and 61 deflects them sufficiently to move back to the normal position shown by full lines in Fig. 1. Both of the lateral deflecting members 41 and 42 are then in neutral, inoperating, position and may be selectively again set by pulling upon one or the other of the draw rods 47 and 48 when another cycle of operations is desired to be performed.

The drive shaft 34 extends forwardly to the front portion of the hearse where it is connected by gear mechanism 68 with the armature shaft 69 of an electric motor represented at 70 and shown as located between the floors 9 and 11, a manually-operable clutch 34 being interposed at a break in this shaft to permit of its disconnection from the motor 70, if desired.

The wiring diagram of the motor is shown in detail in Fig. 8. The arrangement consists of a combination of two direct current, series wound, motors on a single armature 73 connected with shaft 69. The circuit 71 contains a switch 81 and field coils 74, and the circuit 72 contains a switch 82 and field coils '75, a battery 96 being common to both circuits. The separate fields and armature windings permit reversal of the motor by opening one switch and closing the other, this being accomplished by the switch mechanism now to be described.

The'flow of current to these circuits alternately is effected by switch mechanism comprising a rock shaft 76 shown as journalled in a yoke-shaped bracket 77 secured to the floor 9, the ends of this shaft, preferably deflected as represnted at 78, extending into a position accessible to the driver of the car. The shaft 76 has rigid thereon a pair of crescent shaped cams 79 and 80 extending into different angular positions about the shaft 76 and adapted to close the circuit at the normally open switch devices 81 and 82, respectively, the switches shown being simple contact switches adapted to be closed by the engagement of the cams 79 and 80 with reciprocable plungers forming parts of these switches, which latter are illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 8.

Means are also provided for automatically shifting the switch mechanism to neutral position at either of the limiting positions of the casketsupporting platform 14, these means comprising a stop-control yoke 83 mounted to slide lengthwise of the hearse in guides 84 provided on the floor 9, and pivoted at its forward end to a link 85 which, in turn, is pivoted at its forward end to an arm 86 rigid on the shaft 76, the yoke 83 being provided with a pair of laterally extending spaced-apart arms 87 and 88.

The arrangement of the parts is such that assuming the operator rocks the shaft 76 clockwise in Fig. 2 to engage the cam 80 with the switch 82 for closing the circuit which operates the motor in a direction to draw the platform 14 forwardly in which movement of the shaft 76 the yoke 83 is shifted rearwardly. the arm 88 becomes positioned in the path of forward movement of the projection 33 on the drive member 20 when this drive member approaches a position in which the platform 14 extends substantially at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the hearse as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, whereupon continued forward movement of the drive member 20 shifts the yoke 83 forwardly and rocks the shaft 76 to neutral position and the motor 70 stops.

To return the platform 14 to normal position shown by full lines in Fig. 1, the operator rotates the shaft 76 in counterclockwise direction in Fig. 2 to close the circuit for reversely driving the motor 70, the shaft 76 in this movement moving the yoke 83 forwardly into a position in which the arm 87 extends into the path of rearward movement of the projection 33 on the drive member 20 as the latter nears the limit of its rearward movement in. which the platform 14 assumes the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, he final rearward movement of the member 20 operating to rotate the shaft 76 to neutral position whereupon the motor stops.

An auxiliary, hand-operated, shaft 89 journalled on the hearse body and geared to the shaft 34, between the clutch 34 and the wormblock 32 as represented at 90, is provided to permit of the hand operation of the shaft 34 in case the power mechanism described fails to function, in which case the clutch 34 would be preliminarily released by the operator.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the construction is such that the casket may be delivered to either side of the hearse by simply setting either of the deflector members 41 and 42. as the case may be, and then rotating the switch controlling shaft 76 for gpe ration of the motor in a direction to draw the platforml i forwardly, the platform 14 being thereby moved to project laterally through either of the side openings in the hearse depending upon which one of the members 41 and 42 is adjusted into operative position.

After removal of the casket the shaft 76 is rotated to reverse the motor which operates to move the platform'14 back to the normal position shown by full lines in Fig. 1.

Preferably the hearse is provided with a rear door 91 through which the casket may be removed from the hearse, if desired.

For the purpose primarily of preventing the operation of the shaft 76 to a position in which the motor is started for driving the platform forwardly, before the positioning. by the operator, of one or the other of the deflecting members 41 and 42, I provide a lock device for the shaft '76 which normally locks this shaft against rotation and is automatically released. to permit the shaft to be operated, upon the movement of one or the other of the deflecting members 41 and 42 to deflecting position.

The means shown for this purpose comprise a rock shaft 91 journalled in any suitable way to extend into the space between the floors 9 and 11 in a direction crosswise of the drive shaft 34. this shaft being provided with an arm 92 having a terminal tooth 93 to be received into a peripheral notch 94 in a disk 95 rigidly secured to the shaft '76. Under the action of a spring 97 connected at one end withthe arm 92 and at its opposite end with the floor 11, the tooth 93 extends into the notch 94 in the neutral position of the shaft 76 looking this shaft against rotation. The shaft 91 is provided with a depending army 98 rigid therewith and connected by flexible elements with the pull rods 47 and 48 whereby outward movement of either one of these rods rocks the shaft 91 to a position for releasing the shaft 76 for rotation. The flexible elements may. by way of example, be either light chains or cables and in the arrangement shown comprise a portion 99 connected with the arm 98, with branch portions 100 and 101 containing coil-spring sections 100 and 101 and extending around pulleys 102 and 103, respectively, journalled on the floor 9, the terminal ends of the flexible portions 100 and 101 being connected with the pull rods 47 and 48, respectively.

While the lock 92 locks the shaft 76 at the end of the forward movement of the platform 14, because of the return of the shaft 76 to neutral po sition, the lock 92 may be released without setting either of the deflecting members 41 and 42 in deflecting position, as such release occurs before either of the pull rods is pulled out far enough to so set the deflecting member with which it cooperates, and thus the platform may be returned by the power device to normal position without obstruction.

It may be further stated that the shaft locking mechanism referred to also serves to prevent accidental rotation of the shaft '76, as by the jarring thereof in the driving of the hearse.

The feature of providing the springs 32- is of advantage as these springs serve to cushion the force exerted by the worm block 32 against the drive member connected with the platform 14, in the initial rotation of the shaft 34 in both directions, respectively.

The shaft 21 preferably contains a drill hole (not shown) extending vertically therethrough for conducting oil into the housing 32 through an opening 26 in the member 26.

The marginal edges of the guide slots 12 and 13 are preferably sheathed with a non-friction material such as bakelite, as shown in the drawings.

It will be noted that in the embodiment of the invention disclosed herein the casket supporting platform 14 is subjected to a simultaneous swinging and advancing motion; that is, the platform turns and moves longitudinally from one extreme position entirely within the body with its axis substantially parallel to the line of motion of the vehicle, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, to (or from) another extreme position in which the platform projects entirely through the opening in the side of the body transverse to the line of motion of the vehicle, as shown in dotted lines in that figure. This combined swinging and advancing motion is essential where the invention is adapted to the special type of automobile body disclosed herein, since the table must not only swing but move forward bodily to move from the position shown in full lines to the position shown in dotted lines in that figure.

While I have illustrated and described a particular construction embodying my invention, I do not wish to be understood as intending to limit it thereto as the same may be variously modified and altered without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: i

1. In a hearse of the side-delivery type: a movable casket supporting platform; power operated means for actuating said platform and comprising a reversible motor; and switch control means for said motor comprising a movable shaft and a pair of cams on said shaft operative, respectively, for actuating said motor in opposite directions, and a pair of stop arms operative to move said switch control means into neutral position at the limiting positions of said platform.

2. In a hearse of the side-delivery type: a movable casket supporting platform; and power operated means for actuating said platform comprising a power device, a worm drive shaft operatively connected with said power device, and a drive member depending from the rear portion of said platform and in driving engagement with said drive shaft.

3. In a hearse of the side-delivery type: a guide member having a guide portion extending lengthwise of a hearse, and a second, laterally extending, guide portion; a movable casket supporting platform guided by said guide portions; and a drive shaft substantially vertically alined, and parallel, with said first-named guide portion for actuating said platform.

4. In a hearse of the side-delivery type: a guide member having a guide portion extending lengthwise of the hearse, and. a second, laterally extending, guide portion; a movable casket supporting platform having guiding parts which operatively engage said guide portions; and a drive shaft substantially vertically alined, and parallel, with said first-named guide portion and operatively engaging the rear portion of said platform for actuating the latter.

5. In a hearse of the side-delivery type: a guide member having a guide portion extending lengthwise of the hearse, and a second, laterally extending, guide portion the inner end of which is located between the ends of said first-named guide portion; a casket supporting platform having guide members for movement in said guide portions; means movable into and out of a position for directing one of said guide members into said laterally extending guide portion; and a power device for actuating said platform.

6. In a hearse of the side-delivery type: a guide member having a guide portion extending lengthwise of the hearse, and two laterally extending guide portions extending in opposite directions, the inner ends of said laterally extending guide portions being located between the ends of said first-mentioned guide portion; a casket supporting platform having guide members for movement in said guide portions; means movable into and out of a position for directing one of said guide members into either of said laterally extending guide portions; and a power device for actuating said platform.

7. In a hearse of the side-delivery type: a guide member having a guide portion extending lengthwise of the hearse, and a second, laterally extending, guide portion the inner end of which is located between the ends of said first-named portion; a casket supporting platform having guide members for movement in said guide portions; means movable into and out of a position for directing one of said guide members into said laterally extending guide portion; a power device for actuating said platform; and means whereby said first-named means are automatically moved out of operative position to permit the other of said guide members to continue its movement in said first-referred-to guide portion beyond the juncture of the latter with said laterally extending guide portion.

8. In a hearse of the side-delivery type: a guide member having a guide portion extending lengthwise of the hearse, and two laterally extending guide portions, extending in opposite directions, the inner ends of said laterally extending guide portions being located between the ends of said first-mentioned guide portion; a casket supporting platform having guide members for movement in said guide portions; means movable into and out of a position for directing. one of said guide members into either of said laterally extending guide portions; a power device for actuating said platform; and means whereby said first-named means are automatically moved out of operative position to permit the other of said guide members to continue its movement in said flrst-referred-to guide portion beyond the juncture of the latter with said laterally extending guide portions.

9. In a hearse of the side-delivery type: a guide member having a guide portion extending lengthwise of the hearse, and a second, laterally extending, guide portion, the inner end of which is located between the ends of said first-named guide portion; a casket-supporting platform having guide members for movement in said guide portions; a deflector member movable into and out of a position in which it directs one of said guide members into said laterally extending guide portion and normally extends out of deflecting position; means for moving said deflector member into deflecting position; releasable means for holding said deflecting member in deflecting position; and means operating automatically, in the movement of said platform, for releasing said releasable means to permit the other of said guide members on said platform to move forwardly in said first-referred-to guide portion beyond the juncture of'the latter with said laterally extending guide portion.

10. In a hearse of the side-delivery type: a secondary floor spaced above the main body floor and provided with alongitudinal guide slot and a pair of oppositely disposed guide slots extending laterally from said longitudinal slot; a casket supporting platform movably supported on said secondary floor; and power operated means for actuating said casket supporting platform, said means comprising a drive member depending from the rear portion of the platform and provided with a guide member engaging said longitudinal guide slot, 2. second guide member depending from the platform forwardly of said drive member and adapted to move along said lateral guide slots, control means operative to direct said secondary guide member along either of said lateral guide slots, means actuated by said drive member to move said control means into inoperative position, a drive shaft substantiallyparallel with said longitudinal guide slot and in cooperative relation with said drive member, a reversible motor geared to said drive shaft, and means actuated by said drive member to stop the motor at the limiting positions of the platform.

11. In a hearse of the side-delivery type; a guide member having a guide portion extending lengthwise of the hearse, and a second, laterally extending, guide portion the inner end of which is located between the ends of said first-named guide portion; a casket supporting platform having guide members for movement in said guide portions; means movable into and out of a position for directing one of said guide members into said laterally extending guide portion; a power device for actuating said platform; and means controlling the operation of said power device comprising locking means and means actuated by the movement of said first-named means to deflecting position for releasing said locking means.

12. In a hearse of the side-delivery type: a guide member having a guide portion extending lengthwise of the hearse and two laterally extending guide portions extending in opposite directions, the inner ends of said laterally extending guide portions being located between the ends of said first-mentioned guide portion;- a casket supporting platform having guide members for movement in said guide portions; means movable into and out of a position for directing one of said guide members into either of said laterally extending guide portions; a power device for actuating said platform; and means controlling the operation of said power device comprising locking means and means actuated by the movement of said first-named means to deflecting position for releasing said locking means.

13. In a hearse, the combination of: a body of sufficient size to permit a casket to be disposed therein in a loaded position in which the major axis of the casket is substantially parallel to the line of motion of the hearse, said body having a door in one side thereof through which the casket may be passed from said loaded position by a combined turning and advancing movement; means for so supporting said casket in said body that it can be unloaded through said door; a power driven shaft positioned below the floor of the hearse and a connection operatively associated with the shaft whereby actuation of the shaft moves the casket from its loaded position to an unloading position with the major axis of the casket at an angle to the line of motion of said hearse.

14. In a hearse, the combination of: a body of suflicient size to permit a casket to be disposed therein in a loaded position in which the major axis of the casket is substantially parallel to the line of motion of the hearse, said body having a door in one side thereof through which the casket may be passed from said loaded position by-a combined turning and advancing movement; means for so supporting said casket in said body that it can be unloaded through said door; a power driven shaft extending longitudinally with respect to the hearse; and a connection between said shaft and the casket supporting means whereby rotation of the shaft causes the movement' of the casket to either its loaded or unloaded positions.

15. In a hearse, the combination of: a body of suflicient size to permit a casket to be disposed therein in a loaded position in which the major axis of the casket is substantially parallel to the line of motion of the hearse, said body having a door in either side thereof through which the casket may be passed from said loaded position by a combined turning and advancing movement; means for permitting the casket to be projected, by a combined turning and advancing movement, through either of said side doors; and power actuated means for moving said casket from said loaded position to an unloaded position with the major axis of the casket at an angle to the line of motion of said hearse, said unloading position being such that said casket may be readily removed from the hearse through said door by moving said casket along the line of its major axis.

16. In a hearse, the combination of: a body of sufficient size to permit a casket to be disposed therein in a loaded position in which the major axis of the casket is substantially parallel to the line of motion of the hearse, said body 'having a door in either side thereof through which the casket may be passed from said loaded position by a combined turning and advancing movement; switching means for permitting the casket to be projected through either door by said combined turning and advancing movement; means operatively associated with said casket by which the same may be driven from said loaded po sition to an unloading position through either of said door openings, with the major axis of the casket at an angle to the'line of motion of said hearse, said unloading position being such that 1 said casket may be readily removed from the hearse through said door by moving the casket along the line of its major axis.

17. In a hearse, the combination of: a body of suificient size to permit a casket to be disposed therein in a loaded position in which the major axis of the casket is substantially parallel to the line of motion of the hearse, said body having a door in one side thereof through which the casket may be passed from said loaded position by a combined turning and advancing movement; guiding means operatively associated with the casket and hearse for constraining the casket to move in a determined path of travel; power actuated means for moving said casket from said loaded position to an unloading position with the major axis of the casket at an angle to the line of motion of said hearse; and means between the power actuating means and said guiding means through which power is transmitted to the casket for causing the movement thereof to its loading and unloading positions.

18. In a hearse of the side-delivery type: a guide member having a guide portion extending lengthwise of the hearse, and a second, laterally extending guide portion; a casket supported in said hearse and guided by said guide portions;

and a drive shaft substantially vertically aligned, and parallel, with said first-named guide portion for actuating said casket.

19. In a hearse of the side-delivery type: a guide member having a guide portion extending lengthwise of the hearse, and a second laterally extending guide portion; a casket supported in the hearse and adapted to be guided by said guide portions; and a drive shaft, extending substantially parallel with the first mentioned guide portion for actuating said casket.

20. In a hearse, the combination of: a body of sufiicient size to permit a casket to be disposed therein in a loaded position in which the major axis of the casket extends lengthwise of the hearse, said body having a door in either side thereof large enough to permit the casket to be moved along its major axis through either of said doors; power actuated means for moving said casket; and means for switching the travel of said casket in such a manner that it is caused to move from said loaded position to an unloaded position through either of said door openings and there being so situated that it may be removed from the hearse by moving it along its major axis.

WALTER T. JACOBS. 

